HONOURS EVEN
The Kiwior-smith six-rounder proves too close to call
CORNWALLIAN Wes Smith was credited with a share of the spoils at the culmination of a gritty, always-watchable six-rounder against Wolverhamptonbased Pole Damian Kiwior at Walsall Town Hall. Referee Shaun Messer scored 58-58 at the finish, and while the decision was greeted with audible groans that such results often engender, there was precious little one could argue with. The contest was close throughout, and Launceston’s Smith sustained a nasty cut above the left eye when heads clashed midway through the third. Maybe this one could go again in Plymouth later this year.
Mr Messer refereed two other matchups and scored the remainder from ringside for trialist official Chris Dean. The two he was in charge for were between Navan’s Chris Blaney and Latvian Raimonds Sniedze, and Burntwood’s Dani Hodges and tiny Bulgarian Rozmari Silyanova.
The messy tussle between Irishman Blaney and Sniedze was won 40-38 by the former, who was another to pick up a cut above the left optic when noggins clashed in the third. Meanwhile, the four-twos between Hodges and Silyanova finished 40-36 in Hodges’ favour. Silyanova was seemingly looking to perfect the hit-and-hug technique.
The performance of the night without doubt came from one-fight Telford novice Liam Davies, who dominated against Bulgaria’s Stefan Slavchev. Davies floored his opponent twice en route to a 40-34 win.
Of the remaining quartet of bouts, not a single round was won by a visitor. Kingswinford’s Danny Ball eased to a 40-36 triumph over Islington’s Jordan Grannum, while bearded local Levi Ferguson took all six sessions (60-54) against Halesowen’s
evergreen Kevin Mccauley. Elsewhere, there were 40-36 shutout victories for
Redditch’s Andrew Robinson and Swadlincote’s Ross Hollis in respective
bouts against Manchester’s Darryl Sharp and Eastbourne’s Scott Hillman.
THE VERDICT Black Country Boxing Promotions return for the first of what will doubtless be many offerings this year. CANCELLATIONS
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